The women all screamed and ran away.
"'Twas Master Joseph," said the comely dame halting to regain
her breath.
"'Twas Master Joseph," sighed Mrs Page.
"'Twas Master Joseph," moaned Mrs Prance.
"Sure enough," said Mrs Mullins, "I saw his ugly face."
"More frightful than the great gun," said old Dame Toddles.
"I hope the children will get out of the way," said Liza Gray,
"for he is sure to fire on them."
In the meantime, while Master Joseph himself was content with
his position and said not a word, a benignant countenance
exhibited itself at the window and requested in a mild voice
to know, "What his good friends wanted there?"
"We have come to settle Sam Barlow's tommy book," said their
leader.
"Our shop is not open to-day my good friends: the account can
stand over; far be it from me to press the poor."
"Master Diggs," said a Hell-cat, "canst thou tell us the price
of bacon to-day?"
"Well, good bacon," said the elder Diggs willing to humour
them, "may be eightpence a-pound."
"Thou are wrong Master Diggs," said the Hell-cat, "'tis
fourpence and long credit. Let us see half a dozen good
flitches at fourpence, Master Diggs; and be quick."
There was evidently some controversy in the interior as to the
course at this moment to be pursued.
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